Engine starter



Oct. 28, 1947. 7 F. WRIGHT 2,429,863'

ENGINE STARTER Filed Aug. 11, 1945 1 a Sheets-Sheet 2 v I N V EN TOR.Fka NK WANG/l7 7 F. wan;

Oct. 23, 3.. 1 9479 ENGINE STARTER ets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11,

INVENTOR;

- fRA/wrWe/aHr Patented Oct. 28, 1947 .E m B E L: 7 Frank Wright, EastOrange, N. J., assigno'rlo Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. J acor,-' poration of, New Jersey .v

, Application August'll, 1943,,se1-ia1 Nara-n41 This invention relatesto improvements instarters -forinternal combustion engines, and moreparticularly to starters using expansive gasesof explosives. Suchdevices are exemplified in the patents to Coffman, Nos. 2,005,913 and2,283,185, and several others of earlier date, all of which areconsidered as capable of extensive improvement. Oneof the objects of thepresent inventionis to materially simplify the construction, by reducingthe number of parts, and so arrangin the parts asto be'more readilyaccessible and convenient in assembling and dismembering;

- A further featureis in the provision of'a spring sleeve and associatedparts, held in a, manner to avoid weakening the structure and easilyremovable without dismantling the remaining mecha nism; Another purposeis to-produce a starter adapted for partial assemblage, permittingpiston recipro cation over a period of time, by any convenient means,whereby the moving parts are harmonized and their surfacesrendered'eve'n and uniform to operatesmoothly, before the spring sleeveis entered; t

f-A-stih further object is =in the provision of a cushioning device toreceive the impact of the mainmoving part, preventing upsettin andconsequentmalformation f-parts to the extent of impeding, even actuallyobstructing action,

'- These objects are attained by the novel construction, combination andassociation of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, constituting a graphical component of thisdisclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a, longitudinal sectional view, taken onthe center lineof anembodiment of the inven 'n- 6 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) Figure lois'aperspective detailview of one of the absorbing elements. V Figure 11 isa similar view of one of the'separators disposed-intermediate thecushionin elem t ic I i a i. "I 7/ Figure 12 is partial-side, partialsectional view of'a form of spring'whichmay be substituted fortheelements shown in'Figures"10* and 11.

Figure 13 is a'side elevational view of an alternative typeot cushioningspring.

Referringfin -gratr detail-to the drawings, the numeral 15designatesa-Cylindrical base bracket,

' having an annular flange I6, provided with bolt receiving openings by'which it may be held-securely upon a supportfarranged' with respect tothe drive shaftof theerigme to'be started. 7 V 'Atthe out'er forwardendof the bracket is'aninturned fiangel whileat'its-rear end is anoutturned flange -1 8; in which are set a plurality of tubular dowels-l9which pass through the flange ZUefan a.l'i '1tin er'it rilater'described.

A" cylinder '{2 l ha's' a flange 22 seated against the flange zo andaspnt clam band 23, having inturned' 'lateral ed es, maintains the threeflangesin juxtaposition; therebyuniting the cylinderto'thebasebracket';i 1 The outer, rearfend ZQ of the cylinder is closed ans provided with'a screw: threaded axial boss Figure 215 a front elevational view of thedriv ing end, drawn to an enlarged scale. I

, e 3, is a transverse-sectional view taken approximately on line 33 ofFigure 2.

blank. V V

Figureffi is a side view of the completed spring s e v I Figure 6 isaside .elevational view of the spring assembling tool, partially insection.

Figure- 7: is aplan'view of the hollow screw lock washer; V I i"FigureSis a side View, similar to Figure 1', but broken away toshow acushioning means to sorb the impact of the drive member.

Figure 9 is a partial side, partial sectional view of-the shockabsorbing means drawn to anene H Y L a,

larged scale. 3

" Figure 'fiis a plan VieW 'Qf the spring sleeve communicate withtheinterior'o'f the cylinder Exhaust takes place through an opening 30,"controlled bya' valve 3I","its stem 32 being-slid}- able in a sleeve 33having vents 34 open to the passageT2 8. The openingcommunicates withthe outside atmosphere to 'efiect the exhaustactio'n; 7L .-.1I. f... If:I .J I --The valvestem-32 contains a crossbore 35 in whichtwo loose"spherical elements 36are oppo-I sitelfystressed-by an interveninghelical spring 31, whereby they are caused to engage in an annulargroove 38 in'the sleeve 33, in the manner of spring detents, 'whentheivalveis in an extreme open position.

Inthe frontof-the-bracket [5, against the inner' side-of the'fla'nge l1, issetthe fixed outer member of an anti-frictionalthrustbearing 39,the inner member being retained in plac'e by a"spring ring 40 set in agroove in thebracket 4 r5 "Acylindrical-barrel .4 Us slidablyl andro'tatably mounted in the bearing andiprovided'with an: outstanding'annular 'flange 42' on: its inner, rear end adapted to contact :the'bearing 39' wheniin- 'its' eXtrenie' forward position; n

The outer, projecting end of the barrel is provided with an annular rowof teeth 43 to clutchingly engage mating teeth on the end of the enginedrive shaft (not shown).

An abutment ring 44 is fixed in the base bracket I5, having its flange20 seated against the inner end of the bracket and is formed with acylindrical extension 45, entering the bore of the barrel 4|, but out ofContact, due to the interposition of a sleeve 46.

The opposite end of the ring 44 contains a recess 41, and a cylindricalprojection 48 provided with coarse pitched square screw threads 49 whichact as guides for similar threads formed on the outer side of a drivingmember 50.

This member 50 has an enlarged circular head 5| set in the under side ofa piston 52, movable in the cylinder 2| which is provided with the usualring packings 53; the piston is normally retained outwardly, adjacentthe closed end of the cylinder, by a stron coiled compression spring 54,seated within the piston at one end and at the other in the recess 41. vV

Thedrivihg meinber 50 is provided on its inner surface with helicalthreads or splines 55 co-operative with mating threads or splines 56, ona driven member 58 whereby the latter is moved longitudinally and falsorotatively. I

The driving member-5 0 engages, at its forward end, an extension ofthedri ven member 58, which terminates-at its outer end in ahead 59,fitting an opning in the barrel 4| to transmit motion to it.

Also carried by the piston is an axial sleeve 60 having a closed conicalinner-end or head 6|. -A valve rod liz isfixed in the-valve stem 32 andprovided with an enlarged head (i3, cushioned in its action bycoiledcompressionsprings 54 ;at either range'of its-motion withinthe-sleeve 60. l

A shoulde'rfii, reachinginwardlyfrom the wall of the extension w, actsasan abutment for the head 6| of the-sleeve, when the valve '31 engagesits seat, limiting thei novement of the sleeve 60, and also the piston,an outward direction.

. Screw-threadedjnto the bore of the driven member 58 is a hollow screwhaving a flanged head 61 which makes contactyvith a lock washer B8-,hav-in a plurality of radial teeth 159 in its periphery and providedwith rigid dowel pins 68' to fit openings in the end of the drivenmember head '5 9,;the teeth being selectively adapted to be upturnedthrough a notch 10 in the head 51 to prevent loosening of'the screw, thehead of which is provided with openings H for a spanner or similarwrench.

The screw 55 has a bore 1-2 and "a hollow extension 13in which is anannular peripheral recess 14. A screw plug 15 is fitted to engage in theouter portion of the screw 66 and is held from jarring loose byakeepe'rspring ring 15 set in an annular groove int-he screw. -A springsleeve 11 is entered over the screw extension 13 and is formed with abead '18 to engage the "recess 14.

The sleeve Tl isformed from:sheet'spring material to present a pluralityof fingers or prongs l9, shaped asshown'i'n Figure 5, these fingershaving 'outturned terminals 80, and outbowed elements 81 adaptedto-contact the inner wall ofthe drive member extension 58.

The function of .t'h'espr ings 1-9 is toen'gag'e the conical head 5 I amanner so that the -n'iovement of the piston 52 will cause alongitudinal movement of :t-he driven member :58, to the extentrequired, that is; 'to cause the clutch teeth '43 to engage the drivingmember of the'engine, at

which time the barrel flange 42 makes contact with the thrust bearing39; after this the springs will yield to permit passage of the head BIand its sleeve 60.

It is to be understood that in the initial forward movement of thepiston 52, the driven member 58 is not caused to rotate with respect tothe driving member 50, which turns only after the resistance of thesprings 79 has been overcome.

Such springs have been usually secured within the driven member 58, byriveting, which has a tendency to weaken the parts and, in case breakageoccurs, access can be had only by removal of most of the main elementsof the structure through its rear.

It is to be noted that the present structure avoids such contingenciesand further permits assembly and actual working in of the parts beforeinsertion of the springs. Such insertion and removal are greatlyfacilitated by the use of a special hand tool (see Figure 6) whichcomprises a frame -82 having a'flanged base'83 from which projectsa-lug8-4 suited to engage the openings 1| in the screw head 61.

The frame 82 contains an axial bore 85, a counterbore 86 in its outerend portion, and is flattened on two opposite sides 8'! and providedwith central, diametrically drilled openings 88, in which is set ahandle bar -89.'

Freely movable in the bore is a sleeve 90 having an enlarged head 9*!adaptedto be seated on the shoulder of the oounterbore 86, while thelower extending end I is provided with screw threadsSZ suited to fit theinternal threads of the hollow screw 66. e n 4 'Sli-dable through thesleeve 90 is a rod 93 acting as a guide for the tool and springs 19, therod being slidable through the bore 12 of the hollow screw 55, andnormally pressed outwardly by a spring 94, its upper end being seatedagainst the bar BS n :In operation, after the structure has been fullyassembled, except the spring elements 1'l 'l'9, the plug 15 is removedand the centering rod 93 inserted through the bore l2 of the hollowscrew 66-, whereupon the lug 84 is engaged in the opening 10 of thehollow screw, and upon actuating thehandle bar 89 of the tool, the screwmay be withdrawn. 7

Thereafter the. spring sleeve is passed over the rod, its head enteredinto the groove 14 of the hollow screw 55, the lug 84 set in the opening10 of the screw flange, and the screw 66 seated in position to be-lockedby one of the-lock washer elements 69 then the tool is withdrawn and theplug 15 inserted.

It will be understood that removal of the springs 19 is easily andquickly done by reversal nut-like hub element mnemmm the outer splinesor threads 4-9, them to-bind on the splines or threads of the driveshaft, and such repeated hammer-like blows may eventually preventrotation and reciprocation of the drive shaft.

The inner end of the drive shaft 50, striking against the end 59 of thedriven shaft 58, also becomes deformed or upset, creating --further 5.binding, to the extent of preventing proper action of the enginestartergi' These harmful conditions are overcome by the device shown inFigure S'and those following, in which a thin walled cylindrical casingI is fastened by its out standing base flange IOI to the inner face ofthe abutmentring 44, the casing having an inturned annular bead I 02at-;its opposite end-. t g 1 Fitted to :move freely with; the casing'I00is t eets W3 ofarlu e rin 104 va le over the pe rlipheral surface of theinternally threaded element 48, and is provided with an inreachingannular flange I05, which clears the drive shaft 50.

Mounted to move freely within the casing I0, circumjacent the bracketelement 48, are a plurality of fiat, highly elastic rings I06, such assynthetic rubber, having interposed between their side faces rigidwashers I01, slightly larger in diameter and of lesser thickness,constituting a stack of cushion elements, seated at one end against theflange 44 and at its opposite end in contact with the slidable flangeI03, which moves inwardly of the casing, under impact of the drivemember, preventing its deformation by absorbing its energy at the end ofits stroke.

From this it will be seen that the hammer-like blows of the drive shaft,including its head 5|, are very materially cushioned, preventing damageto the splines and likewise to the stationary parts engaged by it.

In the modification shown in Figure 12 a series of inclined fiat springsI08 are substituted for the elastic cushion, these elements beingcontained within the casing I00.

Each spring I09 is shaped as the frustum of a cone, their outer edgesbeing in contact, as at H0, while the inner edges abut one another, asat III.

Figure 13 shows another spring device, consisting of a strip II2 ofmaterial of such thickness as to be contained in the casing I00 and ofconsiderable width, the strip being helically wound, each convolutionspaced as at II3 from the next adjacent, and its ends II4 finishedsquare across.

While the foregoing is descriptive of the best known embodiments of theinvention, it is not to be held as restrictive, but rather suggestive,within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new andsought to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An engine starter comprising in combination with a gas expansionmotor, including a cylinder, a piston operable therein, a drive memberactuated by the piston, a driven member engaged therewith, and a toothedclutch associated with said driven member to impart rotary motion to theengine to be started; a screw threaded into said driven member, a sleevehaving a plurality of spring fingers rotatably connected with said screwto extend inwardly of said driven member, and a conically headed memberfixed to said piston, said conical head frictionally abutting the freeends of said fingers whereby said driven member is initially caused toadvance longitudinally and after passage of said conical head throughsaid spring fingers to rotate without further advancement.

2. An engine starter comprising in combination with a gas expansionmotor, including a fixed cylinder, a piston therein, a drive memberactuated indirectly by said piston, said drive member having a limitedlineal movement and an unlimited rotative movement, a driven memberengaged threwith, a toothed clutch fixed on said. driven member toimpart rotary motion to the engine to be started; a hollow screwthreadedaxially into said driven member, releasable means to retain said screwwhen entered therein, a series of integrally connected spring fingersengaged on said screw to extend into said driven member, and a tubularmember carried by the piston having an enlarged'conical head incontact-.with'the inner. ends of said spring fingers during the linealmovement of said driven member, saidfingers yieldin to permit passage ofthe head therebetween at the beginning of rotative movement of thedriven member.

3. An engine starter comprising in combination with a gas expansionmotor, including a fixed cylinder, and a piston therein; a reciprocativedrive member, a driven member engaged therewith having a clutchengageable with the engine to be started, a hollow screw removablyengaged in said driven member, said screw having a flanged head, a fixedwasher interposed between said head and driven member, means on saidwasher to lockingly engage said head to retain the screw in adjustment,a series of inreaching spring fingers supported by said screw, and aconical headed sleeve fixed on said piston initially in contact withsaid spring fingers, said fingers yielding at the end of the linealmovement of the driven member to permit passage of said headtherebetween as the piston moves forwardly.

l. In an engine starter of the type described, including a reciprocativedrive member, a driven member engaged therewith and a clutch combinedtherewith; a hollow screw set in said driven member, said screw having afront part containing an annular recess and a rear part internallythreaded, a sleeve having a bead fitting said recess, a plurality ofspring fingers integral with said sleeve to extend into said drivenmember, a starter member carried by the drive member having a conicalhead in frictional contact initially with said fingers and capable ofeventually passing therebetween, at the end of the lineal movement ofthe driven member, and means to lock said screw when set;

5. In combination with an engine starter having a clutch member mountedfor lineal and rotative movement and means to initiate such linearmovement and thereafter a rotative movement; a hollow screw threadedaxially into a driven member attached to said clutch member, a flangedhead on said screw provided with a peripheral notch, and at least onewrench receiving opening, a washer fixedly interposed between said headand clutch member, said washer having a plurality of peripheral teethselectively engageable in the flange notch, said screw having acylindrical inner portion provided with an annular recess and aninternally threaded outer end, a sleeve having means to engage in therecess of the screw, a plurality of spring fingers integral with saidsleeve to extend inwardly therefrom, a, starter member having a conicalhead in frictional contact initially with said fingers and capable ofeventually passing therebetween at the end of the lineal movement of thedriven member, and a plug fitting the internally threaded portion ofsaid hollow screw;

6. An engine starter comprising in combination, a piston adapted to bedriven by an expanding gas charge, a reciprocable and rotatable drivenmember having one end arranged to engage a rotatable member of. the.engine, a sup-- porting member connected to said one end of:

the driven member andreadily detachable there-F immia set of springfingers mounted on said supporting member and extending within said 5drivem member, and an elongated member connected to. the piston andhaving a taperedhead poxtion disposed; initially in contact with said'spring fingers and, adapted to press against said fingers, until the:end of the lineal travel of: the foi.

driven member and; thenspread; them apart and pass. between them inresponse tofonwarldimotion of the: piston.v

WRIGHT.

REFERENES @ITED Theifollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent":

UNITED SIA'IPI-BS PATENTS:

Niamber' Nemre Date 2283,1535 Coff'man May 19; 2,300,002 Nardone Get;27', I942 139513030 Nard'on'e- Mar. 13', I934 2;1-9-7-;1 5'5* Nardbn'eApr. 16 1940 230053913 Goifmain Ji'me25', 1 935

